1. Place the letter of the science definition in front of the science term it describes.
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Science Terms
( C ) Biology ( B ) Dendrology ( E ) Morphology ( A ) Botany ( D ) Ecology |
Science Definition
A. The biological science of plants. B. The botanical study of trees. C. The science of living organisms and life processes. D. The science of the relationships between organisms and their environments. E. The branch of biology dealing with form and structure. |
Discussion: Students should have a list of "...ologies" (Handout H.1.1). Review and discuss the list. What other "...ologies" do you know?
2. What is a habitat?
Answer (from Seedling Terms H.1.2): An environment in which you expect to find certain species of plants and animals.
Discussion: Indicate students should have a list of Seedling Terms (Handout H.1.2). As definitions are covered in pre-test discussion point out the term in the list. Read the Card Description on the Habitat Card overhead (Overhead 0.1.1).
3. What is the difference between weather and climate (Hint: Think Time)?
Answer: Weather is a short term atmospheric condition (typically measured minute to minute, hour to hour or day to day). Climate is a long term atmospheric condition (typically measured in years to decades to centuries).
4. List some environmental conditions that effect tree growth (Hint: Think of some atmospheric and ground conditions).
Answer
Atmospheric conditions = temperature, rainfall, altitude
Ground conditions = soil moisture, soil type (rock, sand, clay, etc.), topography (trees growing on a Mountain Bluff vs. a Mountain Valley).
5. What are USDA hardiness zones?
Answer (from Seedling Terms): Hardiness Zones are assigned by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and are based on the average annual minimum temperature of a region. Hardiness Zones range from 1 to 11 with each zone reflecting a 10 degree change in temperature.
Discussion: Read material on Hardiness Zone overhead (Overhead O.1.2). Discuss the hardiness zone map. What hardiness zone are you in?
6. Arrange the following soil moisture levels from driest to wettest: mesic; xeric; hydric.
Answer: xeric -> mesic -> hydric
Discussion: Read material on Soil Moisture overhead (O.1.3). What soil moisture levels do you think are most common on your school's campus?
7. In habitat recognition, what is an indicator species?
Answer (from Seedling Terms): Plant and animal species used to identify different types of habitats.
Game Discussion: Display Habitat Card overhead (O.1.1). Identify each of the elements on the card that are used in the Seedling Game (Temperature Value, Water Value & Preferred Species). Also discuss the informational items on the habitat cards (ex. Habitat name, region, park location, description, etc.)
8. How many different tree species are considered native to the North American Continent?
a. less than 100 b. about 200 c. 487 d. over 600
Discussion: Read the Card Description on the Tree Card overhead (O.1.4). Native means originating from or natural within a certain area.
9. Organize the following parts of a scientific name from the broadest to the most specific term: genus; family; variety; species.
Answer: family -> genus -> species -> variety
Discussion: The name of the botanist or other individual that first discovered the plant is often listed after the species name. Point out the location of the Family, Genus, and species name on the Tree Card overhead (Overhead O.1.4).
10. Define solar energy.
Answer (from Seedling Terms): Energy obtained from the sun.
Discussion: On Overhead O.1.4 point out the growing and planting "Sol" costs. Indicate that "Sols" represent "Solar energy" gathered and used by the trees to perform actions in the game. Emphasize the importance of energy. Energy is finite and all actions require energy.
11. T or F All trees grow under the same environmental conditions.
Answer: F
Discussion: On the Tree Card overhead point out the tree's Water and Temperature Ranges. Note that each tree species has a water and temperature range in which it naturally occurs. Furthermore, each habitat has a water and temperature value. As long as a tree's water and temperature ranges include both values of a habitat, the tree can grow there. Have you noticed a difference in the types of trees and plants that are present near water and those far away from water? Discuss.
12. T or F All trees grow at the same rate.
Answer: F
Discussion: On the Tree Card overhead point out the tree's Sun Growth Strength.
13. What is allelopathy?
Answer (from Seedling Terms): The process in which a plant releases into the environment a chemical compound that inhibits or stimulates the growth of another plant in the same or neighboring habitat. For example, The Black Walnut tree (Juglans nigra) produces toxins which kill other plants around its base (especially tomatoes).
14. What is salt tolerance?
Answer (from Seedling Terms): The ability to resist damage caused from exposure to salt.
15. What is shade tolerance?
Answer (from Seedling Terms): The ability of a tree to grow with minimal sunlight.
Discussion: On the Tree Card overhead point out the trees Shade Growth Strength. Why is the term "minimal sunlight" rather than "no sunlight" used in the definition of Shade Tolerance. Answer: Plants need light in order to survive (Photosynthesis).
16. Tree succession is the sequential progression of tree species that occur in a habitat after a major disturbance such as a wildfire or Tornado. List the following categories of tree species in order from first trees to appear after a disaster to last to appear: Seral; Climax; Pioneer.
Answer: Pioneer -> Seral -> Climax
17. Define wilderness.
Answer (from Seedling Terms): a wild uncultivated, uninhabited region.
18. Define nursery.
Answer (from Seedling Terms): A place where plants are raised.
19. Define forest stratification.
Answer (from Seedling Terms): The distinct vertical layers of leaves that may be observed within a forest (especially within old, mature forests).
20. Place the following forest stratification layers in the correct order from bottom to top: shrub; herb/fern; canopy; litter; understory.
Answer: litter -> herb/fern -> shrub -> understory -> canopy
Discussion: Look at the Forest Stratification handout (Handout H.1.3). Identify and discuss the different layers of the forest.
Game Discussion: Display the Game Layout overhead (Overhead O.1.5). Discuss the use of real forest names used as labels for different areas of the Mighty Trees game. Why do you think each term was chosen for the area it represents?